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Chapter 27
“Concern”
“Sorry?”
Carriaire was overcome by a strange feeling as he looked at the woman who passed out again after saying just that.
“Sorry for making you worry…”
“Brother, I’m sorry for being sick.”
The memory of his little brother, now existing only in his mind, briefly overlapped with the woman before him.
Why was that?
Her hair color, her eyes, even her entire vibe didn’t resemble his brother at all.
His gaze drifted back to the sleeping woman.
He frowned slightly, confused by her behavior.
What was she so sorry for?
Was there really something she had done that deserved such an apology at the very moment she lost consciousness?
Carriaire simply couldn’t understand why this woman’s apology echoed the one his sick little brother had once given him.
They were the ones in pain, not him.
They were the ones suffering.
So why did they apologize to him?
Was it simply because they were weak? Or because they made him worry?
“…Huh? Duke?”
He finally looked away from the woman when Mei called him again.
Looking tense, Mei bowed her head and explained:
“I’m not completely sure since we don’t have full details, but I believe she has caught Kocher disease. She slept with the window open last night, and considering the long travel, her immunity must’ve been weakened.”
Kocher disease—common in the northern parts of Hestonia, where the Esperos territory lies. It’s caused by exposure to cold northern winds when one’s immunity is low.
It’s common like the cold and has a cure, so it’s not usually dangerous…
As long as the medicine is taken in time.
“Her condition?”
“It seems to be in the early stage. No need to worry too much.”
“Worry, huh.”
Mei looked up at him but quickly lowered her gaze again.
There was no emotion in Carriaire’s eyes.
But the twisted smile on his lips showed his annoyance clearly.
“I do need to worry… Because if she dies, I lose the hostage I need to lure out Delphiann.”
His cold voice made Mei lower her head even more.
As Carriaire looked back at the medicine pouch on the table, Mei quickly explained:
“B-Because it’s late, I couldn’t call a doctor… But these are the same meds we used when Master Shion had Kocher. I thought we should start her on something right away…”
As soon as Mei mentioned “Shion Esperos,” she froze, realizing her mistake.
Oh no…
She peeked at him, hoping for no reaction.
Carriaire stood silently, eyes back on the sleeping woman.
“Why doesn’t she say anything…?”
His voice held genuine curiosity—why hadn’t she asked anyone for help despite the high fever?
Mei followed his gaze to the woman’s red, flushed face, struggling to breathe from the fever.
Even she didn’t understand why the woman hadn’t said anything.
Was it because she thought they might harm her?
Or did she believe no one would help even if she asked?
“No, I guess that’s a meaningless question.”
Carriaire turned and walked out.
Everything about Heidi Eliana was meaningless to him.
Even if he knew what she was thinking, nothing would change.
* * *
“Heidi?”
Delphiann’s voice brought her back to her senses.
Blinking rapidly, Heidi forced a smile.
“I-I’m fine. Just a little startled.”
“…Okay.”
“I was just… thinking about something else.”
Trying to act casual, she guided him to the tea table.
“So, um, what brings you here this early?”
She sat across from him, trying to act normal, though her heart raced with anxiety.
Delphiann chuckled at her reaction.
“I had something I wanted to ask.”
“Something to ask?”
“Yeah, it’s nothing big. Just about the night of the party…”
As he cautiously began, her heart dropped again.
“When we entered the party, you were wearing one dress. But a few hours later, you were in a different one.”
“Was there something I didn’t know about?”
Her heart pounded.
Did he see?
Did he notice something?
“I-I think you’re mistaken. I did change, but both dresses were mine.”
“Both?”
“I spilled champagne… so I changed into a spare I brought.”
She lied.
Even if it wasn’t convincing, she had to stick to it. She couldn’t let him know it was Revellia’s dress.
Because she couldn’t bear the thought of him becoming interested in Revellia.
He stayed silent, which only made her more nervous.
Trying to regain control, she asked hesitantly:
“Why do you ask? Did you… see the Piace lady at the party?”
“Oh. Yeah.”
“It was the first time I saw her up close, so I remember looking her way.”
He looked at her?
Why?
“And… I don’t know how to say this, but I thought you two looked similar.”
That was the breaking point.
Heidi stood up suddenly.
“We’re not alike!”
“What?”
“Revellia and I don’t look alike at all!”
Delphiann frowned, confused.
“Heidi?”
He’d never looked at her like this—frowning, questioning.
“Heidi.”
Heidi looked into his serious eyes.
And at that moment, she thought:
I wish Revellia had died in that castle.
I wish she never came back to Zeroth.
She wished everything about that woman would disappear so that she could hold onto Delphiann’s love.
“I… I want to rest now. Please leave.”
She turned her back, biting her lip.
Nothing had changed—yet everything felt broken.
